Refrigerating apparatus



May 5,1925

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REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it'known that 1, Humor D. Maroon, a citizen of the United States of America, and. a residentof Detroit, in the county of ,5 Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptiong The early developments in the art of mechanical refrigeration were the result of an insistent demand by industry for methods of refrigeration more. reliable than any then available and operable on a far greater scale. For many years after the initial development the practical advance in the art was confined to the improvement of the mechanisms theretofore developed and it has been only recently that attention has been directed and practical results attained in the adaption of mechanical refrigeration to small plants suitable for installation in homes, meat shops, grocery stores, and the like. At the present time, however, these small plants have already reached a high degree of perfection, are recognized as thoroughly practical, and are being installed generally.

These small plants now coming into such wide use may be divided roughly into one class wherein the plant is constructed as an integral, part of the complete refrigerator and a second class where the refrigerating mechanism is constructed as a separate apparatus arranged to be operated in conjune lid . tion with an already existing refrigerator.

Refrigerating apparatus of this second class comprises in general a cooling portion adapted to be installed in the cooling chamber of the existing refrigerator and a motor portion adapted to be installed in any convenient position, such as in the basement below the refrigerator, and connected to the cooling portion by suitable piping and usual V ly by mechanism which permits control of he motor portion from the interior of the refrigerator-t0 automatically maintain constant temperature in the refrigerator. In some instances the cooling portion of the I mechanism may comprise coils of pipes secured directly to the walls of the cooling chamber of the refrigerator but generally this portion of the mechanism is formed as frigeratingmechanism either by controlling the flow of the refrigerant or by controlling the operation of the pump usually by opening or closing the circuit to the electric motor by. which the pump is driven. A thermostatof this type operates best when positioned at a point above the body of the brine tank in proximity to the: end turns of the cooling coil and in the direct path of the warm air entering the cooling chamber from the adjacent "storage chamber and it is therefore general practise to mount/the thermostat upon the top of the brine tank adjacent the opening from the storage chamher into the cooling chamber. In operation, however, it is found that with these units constructed in their present form,

congelate accumulates on the top of the tank and decreases the conductivity of the top of the tank and, in addition, in some cases accumulates in sutlicient amount tointroduce errors into, and even completely prevent, the operation of the thermostat. In addition, it is found that with a unit of this type it is necessary to leave a small space within the brine tank to provide for expansion of the brine with change in temperature and that this space, with the tanks now in use, is effective to insulate the brine from the top of the tank and again reduce the conductivity of the top of the tank.

My invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to refrigerating apparatus of the type which employs cooling unitssuch as have been herein described and the principal object of my invention is to provide a new refrigerating apparatus of this type. In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof 1 have shown, for purposes of illustration, one form which my invention may assume. In these drawings Figure l is a front elevation of a refriga-nd improved till ill

ice

erator of the type employing a cooling unit of the type herein described and embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the cooling unit shdwn in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the unit shown I in F igure 2 with certain parts omitted,

Figures 4 and 5 are sections on the lines 44 and 55 respectively of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a plan view similar to F igure 3 but showing a modified construction.

Figures 7 and 8 are sections on the lines 7-7 and 88 respectively of Figure 6,

' while Figure 9 is asection similar to Figures 4 and 5 showing a modified construction.

T he present application is a continua tion in part of my application Serial Number 637,981 filed May 10, 1923.

The device shown in Figures 1 through 5 comprises a refrigerator 1 provided with vertical and horizontal walls 2 and 3 respectivelywhich divide the interior of the refrigerator into a cooling chamber 4, a storage chamber 5 connected to the cooling chamber 4 by an aperture 6 in the horizontal wall 3, and a storage chamber 7 connected to the cooling chamber 4 and the storage chamber 5 by apertures 8 and 9 re spectively in the vertical wall 2, the apertures 6, 8, and 9 being arranged to assist convection of air from the cooling chamber 4 through the storage chambers 5 and 7 back to the cooling chamber4-along the path indicated by the arrows in Figure 1.

Positioned within the cooling chamber 4 of the refrigerator 1 is a brine "tank 11 which is generally rectangular in form and provided interiorly with suitable cooling coils arranged to permit the provision of chambers 12 in which may be inserted suitable pans 13 for the purpose of forming ice for use exteriorly of the refrigerator. Extending from the top of this tank 11 is an expansion valve 14 which may be of any suitable type and operate in the usual man ner to prevent an abnormal increase in pressure within the cooling system..-..A lso positioned, upon the top of this tank 11 is a thermostat 17 which may be of any suitable type, but is herein shown as surrounded by the end turns 16 of the cooling coil, and controls the operation of the entire mechanismby controlling the circuit to the electric pump-operating motor. The thermostat 17, when positioned as herein shown, is responsive to the combined action of the end turns 16 of the cooling coil and of the relatively warm air entering the cooling chamber 4 through theaperture 8 and being so responsive is appreciably affected, and even rendered inoperative, by an appreciable accumulation of congelate in proximity to itself.

In the device herein shown, however,

tank 11 into intimate contact with the top of the tank 11. In Figures 1- through 5 these means are shown as comprising the substitution for the flat top usually provided on tanks such as the tank 11 herein disclosed of a top 18 shown herein and consisting of .sheet metal formed as a. pyramid having its apex 10 substantially central of the top of the 'tank 11 and its sides 15 pitched to'cause fluid to flow therefromfin Figures 6, 7, and 8, I have shown a device similar to that shown-in Figures 1 through 5 but utilizing, instead of the pyramid shaped top 18, a dome shaped top 19 which functions in substantially the same manner as the top 18; while in Figure 9 I have shown a third device utilizing a top 20 similar exteriorly to the top of Figures 1 through 5 but formedinteriorly with a flat face 21 arranged to be in contact with the brine and a central well 22zarranged to provide for expansion of the brine.

In refrigerating apparatus of the type herein shown the refrigerating action of the apparatus is intermittent, the apparatus op erating until the temperatures of the end turns 16 of the cooling coil and of the air passing through the aperture 8 into contact with the thermostat 17 are such that the joint effect of these agents upon the thermostat 17 causes the thermostat 17 to open the circuit to the pump-operating motor and thus discontinue the cooling action after which the apparatus remains idle until the temperatures of the end turns 16 of the cooling coil and of the air passing through the aperture 8 against the thermostat 17 rise sufficiently so that the joint action of these agents upon the thermostat 17 causes the thermostat 17 to close the circuit to the .pump-operating motor and thus inaugurate the refrigerating action. Particularly dur-' ing the operation of the refrigerating mechanism the relatively warm air from the aperture 8 in striking the top of the tank 11 is sufliciently chilled to deposit on the top of the tank 11 congealed vapor which may tire refrigerating action and in addition to that is not appreciably removed by the continued stream of relatively warm air which continues to strike the top of the tank 11 while the refrigerating mechanism is inactive and accordingly this frost accumulates not only during each period of refrigerating action but also from one period to the next. With thetop of the tank 11 formed as shown herein any vapor condensing thereon in the form of fluid will pass off without congealing while vapor condensing thereon as frost will flow from the top of thetank 11 when warmed by the air passing through the aperture S'during the succeeding inactive portion of the operating cycleand leave, at the beginning of the succeeding refrigerating operation, no accumulation from the preceding refrigeration operation. Accordingly, with the top of the tank ll'constructcd in accordance with my invention, no appreciable amount of congelate will accumulate thereon and in particular there will not accumulate thereon an amount offcongelate sufficient to affect the operation of the thermostat 17 so that the thermostat 17 will operate continuously and without error.

And with the interior ofthe top of the tank 11 formed as herein shown, the brine will be continually in contact with the top over a large portion of the area of the top yet there will remain a space sufficient to provide for any expansion of. the brine.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the devices herein disclosed openate to remove long standing difliculties heretofore present in apparatus of the type herein considered, that while I have illustrated three particular shapes which I have found suitable for the top of. the tank 11 I may nevertheless. construct this top in various other shapes, and that in general the construction herein shown may be variously modified without sac-riflcingthe advantages of my invention or departing from the spirit thereof. It will therefore be understood that the disclosure herein is illustra tive only and that my invention isnot limited thereto.

I claim:

1.' A cooling unit comprising a refrigerant chamber, a tank disposed about said chamher and adapted to be inserted within the cooling chamber of said refrigerator with its top in the path of the relatively warm air flowin from the storage chamber of said refrigerator, heat conducting fluid disposed Within said tank and about said refrigerant chamber, and a top of equal thickness throughout formlng part of said tank and having an exterior surface and an inter or surface each sloping upwardly from the perimeter to a single elevated section thereof.

A cooling unit comprising a refrigerant chamber, a tank disposed about said chamber, heat conducting fluid disposed within said tank and about said chamber, and a top forn'iing'a partof said tank and having an interior surface sloping upwardly from the perimeter to a single elevated section thereof whereby said fluid may contact an appreciable part of said top while still providing an air space between said fluid and another part of said top to provide for expansion of said fluid.

3. A cooling unit comprising a refrigerant chamber, a tank disposed about said chamber and adapted to be inserted within the cooling chamber of said refrigerator with its top in the path of the relatively warm air flowing from the storage chamber of said refrigerator, heat conducting fluid disposed within said tank and about said refrigerant chamber, and a top of equal thickness throughout forming part'of said tank and having an exterior surface of a contour adapted to shed condensatetherefrom and an interior surface of a contour other than a horizontal plane whereby said fluid may concooling chamber of said refrigerator with its top in the path of the relatively warm air flowing from the storage chamber of said refrigerator,- heat conducting fluid disposed within said tank and about said refrigerant .chamber, and a top forming part of said tank and having an exterior surface of a contour adapted toshed condensate therefrom and an interior surface sloping upwardly from the perimeter to a single elevated section thereof whereby said fluid may contact an appreciable part of said top while still providing an air space between another part of said top and said fluid to provide for expansion of saidfluid.

5. A' cooling unit comprising a refrigerant chamber, a tank disposed about said chamber and adapted to be inserted within the cooling chamber of said refrigerator with its top in the path of the relatively warm air flowing from the storage chamber of said refrigerator. heat conducting fluid disposed within said tank and about said refrigerant 'chan'iber, and a top'tlorming a part of said tank and havingan exterior surface sloping upwardly from the periphery to a single ele vated section thereof and an interior surface of acontour other than a horizontal plane whereby said fluid may contact an appreciable part of said top while still providing an 'air. spacr between another part of said top and aid fluid to provide for expansion of said fluid.

6. A cooling unit comprising a rcfpigerant tween another part of said top and said fluid to provide for expansion of said fluid 7. A COOlllLSI unlt comprismg a refrigerant chamber, a tank disposed about said cha1n-' ber, heat conducting fluid: disposed within said tank and about said chamber, and a top forming a part of said tank and having an interior surface of a contour other than a horizontal plane whereby said fluid may contact an appreciable part of said top while still providing an air space between said fluid and another part of said top to provide for expansion ofsaid'fluid.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto alfix my signature.

\YILLIAM D. MERCER. 

